Doctor charged with 3 more voyeurism counts PARAGOULD (AP) — A Paragould gynecologist accused of taking photographs of a nude patient faces additional charges after police said three more patients identified pictures of themselves on his cellphone, according to documents filed in a Greene County court. Greene County District Judge Dan Stidham found probable cause to charge Paul Becton with three more counts of felony video voyeurism. Becton has already pleaded not guilty to five counts....

Jonesboro to use grant for police body cameras JONESBORO (AP) — The Jonesboro City Council has approved buying Tasers and body cameras for some of its police officers. The purchase with a $12,000 grant was approved Tuesday night. The funding for the equipment is from the Department of Justice. Mayor Harold Perrin says 10 of the city's approximately 125 officers will wear a camera. He says he ultimately wants to outfit all the officers to increase the safety of police and residents. The gra...

10th anniversary events planned for Clinton center LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Planning is underway for events this fall to mark the 10th anniversary of the Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, including a multiday celebration featuring the former president, first lady and former members of Bill Clinton's administration. The Clinton Presidential Center was dedicated Nov. 18, 2004, in a cold, rainy ceremony featuring four presidents and members of the rock band U2. Since then, more than 3 million...

EPA awards nearly $3M to protect water quality LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded nearly $3 million to the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission to support management of nonpoint-source water pollution. The federal agency says the $2,988,000 in total funds will be used for a variety of projects designed to improve water quality in several priority watersheds — including the Illinois River, Bayou Bartholomew, Strawberry River and L'Anguille River. Nonpoi...

Pryor, Boozman announce grants for El Dorado EL DORADO (AP) — Arkansas' U.S. senators say the El Dorado Fire Department will receive $67,500 from the Department of Homeland Security to buy stretchers, back-boards and splints. The senators said in a statement Tuesday that funding from the department's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program will let the department buy equipment needed to move people out of harm's way. The grant program provides fire departments and ambulance companies wi...

Fort Smith plans to stream meetings online FORT SMITH (AP) — Members of Fort Smith's board of directors want to broadcast their meetings on the Internet, perhaps as early as this month. The board televises its meetings on a local cable television channel. The Southwest Times Record reported Tuesday the board intends to live-stream meetings through the city's website, if a trial run is successful. The city's deputy city administrator, Jeff Dingman, said if people in Fort Smith don't hav...

Oral arguments set in Voter ID lawsuit LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The Arkansas Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Oct. 2 in the legal challenge over the state's new law requiring voters to show photo identification before casting a ballot. The court on Tuesday scheduled oral arguments in the state's appeal over the law, which was approved last year when the Republican-led Legislature overrode a veto by Democratic Gov. Mike Beebe. Pulaski County Circuit Judge Tim Fox struck down the law...

'Big Rock' work closing road overnight this week LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Construction work at the Big Rock interchange in west Little Rock will force the closure of Shackleford Road beneath the new lanes of Interstate 630. The interstate and Financial Centre Parkway will remain open, but no traffic will be allowed to cross it. Northbound Shackleford traffic will be routed onto I-630 eastbound. Drivers wanting to go farther north on Shackleford will need to go through two cloverleafs and re-enter ...

Peterson: Witt assured of agriculture panel spot HOT SPRINGS (AP) — The top Democrat on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee on Tuesday said former Federal Emergency Management Agency Director James Lee Witt is assured a spot on the panel if he wins his bid for a south Arkansas congressional seat this fall. Speaking at a forum focusing on farming issues, U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota said Witt will serve on the panel if he's elected to the 4th Congressional District. Witt is running...

Lodge set to reopen after renovations MENA (AP) — An Arkansas state park lodge is scheduled to reopen next year after $6.7 million in renovations are completed. The Queen Wilhelmina State Park Lodge near Mena is set to reopen in spring 2015, after it was closed for about two years, the Texarkana Gazette reported. The lodge has 38 guest rooms, a restaurant, a meeting room and other amenities. All other facilities at the state park have remained open. The renovations will expand the...

Jet maker breaks ground on expansion LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Dassault Falcon Jet has officially begun work on a $60 million expansion of its private jet finishing plant at Little Rock's airport. The factory has about 2,000 employees, and expansion of the completion center ensures that 400 of those positions will stay in Arkansas. The company broke ground Tuesday on the expansion, which is set to be complete in early 2016. It will add 250,000 square feet to Dassault's site and bring th...

1 killed, 2 hurt in Labor Day crash in Madison CountyHUNTSVILLE (AP) — Arkansas State Police say a Green Forest woman was killed and two people were injured in a two-vehicle wreck in Madison County. State police say the crash happened Monday on U.S. 412 east of Arkansas 127. According to a preliminary report, 69-year-old Peggy Rhoades was a passenger in a vehicle that was struck head-on by another vehicle that crossed the center line. State police say Rhoades was killed in the crash, and the dri...

Jail to start new video visitation system PARAGOULD (AP) — An official with an eastern Arkansas county jail says he expects video visitation services for inmates to begin this week. Greene County Jail administrator Dave Tierney tells the Paragould Daily Press inmates and their visitors should be able to talk to each other through video calls starting Wednesday. Tierney says that before, visitors would meet face-to-face in what he called a "chaotic" and "free-for-all" process. He says ...

Osceola steel mill schedules groundbreaking OSCEOLA (AP) — Gov. Mike Beebe is expected to attend an invitation-only groundbreaking for an Osceola steel mill that's been sued by a competing company. The Blytheville Courier News reported the groundbreaking for the Big River Steel mill will be held Sept. 22. Construction on the $1.3 billion project is scheduled to last two years. The mill is expected to employ more than 500 workers when complete. The project is commencing despite efforts b...

Report says juveniles institutionalized too longAn independent, nonprofit organization in Arkansas is looking into whether youth sent to the state's juvenile facilities are staying months or even years past their initial release dates. The Disability Rights Center of Arkansas was prompted to look into the issue after a 13-year-old boy was sent to the Arkansas Juvenile Assessment and Treatment Center for disorderly conduct for three to five months and remains there three years later, accordi...

5 things to know about Arkansas' midterm electionsWith a U.S. Senate race that could help determine which party controls that chamber and a race for an open governor's seat, Arkansas has no shortage of drama in its midterm election. Republicans view the election as a chance to complete their takeover of the state's top offices, while Democrats want to keep a foothold in an otherwise GOP-friendly South. Beyond the races at the top of the ballot, the election also features plenty of interesting...

New sign ban going into effect soon in Fort SmithThe city of Fort Smith will soon begin enforcing a ban on signs in public rights of way. The Southwest Times Record reports (http://bit.ly/1qSlUPX ) that the Fort Smith Boards of Directors approved the measure in early August. It will go into effect on Thursday. The measure includes exemptions under certain conditions for signs under 4-square-feet from noon Friday to noon Monday. Nonprofit organizations are also allowed three signs in city rig...

Health law factors into governor's, Senate racesDemocrats Mark Pryor and Mike Ross took different positions on the president's federal health overhaul plan when it came before Congress four years ago. But, running in the two hottest races in Arkansas this fall, both find themselves under attack on the issue and attempting to navigate around it as they struggle to prevent a complete Republican takeover of the state's top offices. Pryor, running for re-election to the Senate, and Ross, a form...

Community college disputes concurrent enrollmentEnrollment at a Pine Bluff-area community college is suffering because a four-year university started offering concurrent enrollment at a nearby high school, according to the community college's president. Southeast Arkansas College president Stephen Hilterbran has complained to the Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board about the University of Arkansas at Monticello offering classes for college credit at White Hall High School, accordin...

Fort Smith sales tax revenues ahead of 2013 FOR SMITH (AP) — Fort Smith's latest sales-tax report shows revenues in July continued an upward trend over 2013 while missing budget estimates by about 1 percent. A report released by the Fort Smith Finance Department indicates revenues hit $3.26 million, which was 1.26 percent more than last July and 1.15 percent, or about $38,000, below budget estimates for the month. The Fort Smith Times Record reported factoring in the newest figures from...